The comment below was in reference to rarely used rural roads with minimal traffic and no shoulders.
Originally Posted by
john m flores
...
If anything, I've long suspected that distracted driving happens more frequently on the roads depicted. After all, nobody's around
I sort of agree, but also disagree. The drivers often are ones that drive that road almost daily, thus they are used to where the bumps are, etc. So they are more relaxed and less attentive. But on the other hand, if there is a change, they may be more inclined to notice the change.
That is where high visibility clothing and flashing taillights in daytime have a role. I think those drivers are more likely to see someone that was not there on previous drives. Two examples are below, these are of my touring buddy on Natchez Trace. This was an unusually safe road, administered by the National Park Service, no commercial traffic, but my point is the high vis clothing on a road with no shoulder.
I do not use the super bright flashers that some feel are necessary, mine are powered by a pair of AAA batteries, but I am convinced that they are adequate for that sort of riding.
Most of my tour in Iceland a decade ago was on roads just like that, such as below:
